Russian Ministry of Education puts together new history textbook with section on war in Ukraine

Russia has put together a new history textbook for 11th graders which contains a section on the “special military operation” (the Kremlin’s official term for the 2022 invasion of Ukraine). Russian Education Minister Sergei Kravtsov presented the textbook on April 24 at the educational marathon “Knowledge. Firsts.”

According to TASS, the textbook will reveal the reasons for the start of the “Special Military Operation.” “The Special Military Operation aroused a desire among the population of the country to help and support its participants. A mass volunteer movement has sprung up in all regions of Russia.” TASS quotes the textbook as saying.

The book was written by Vladimir Medinsky, aide to the Russian president and former Minister of Culture, as well as MGIMO Rector Anatoly Torkunov.

According to Kravtsov, the textbook will be available for 10th-11th grades from September 1, 2023. According to the minister, schools will be able to switch to it gradually, if possible.

In January, the Ministry’s press service reported that the new history textbook would be used en masse in schools beginning in the 2024-2025 academic year.